Clarkson hopes to head to join Gilas after Youth Camps

LOS ANGELES — Jordan Clarkson held the second of his three summer camps this past week, showing young ballers some of the skills that helped him become the NBA’s lone Fil-Am player. Even magic Johnson came by to meet the 150 kids.

While most kids are from Los Angeles, 12 year old Julian Quilacio came from Baguio.

While he enjoyed running drills and going one on one with some of the kids, Clarkson will have one more summer camp in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas next week.

“It’s going to be my first time doing a camp there in San Antonio, giving back to the community, just being able to go down there it’s going to be a whole new experience for me,” he said.

Entering his fourth season, Clarkson is now one of the longest tenured Lakers. When he’s not making new friends at camp, he’s been getting acquainted with some of his new teammates — like high profile draft pick Lonzo Ball, and fellow guard Kentavious Caldwell Pope.

“We’ve been up there in the facility a lot recently playing, working out with each other and stuff so it’s been cool,” he said. “Whole new team; we’ve got all the prices to the puzzle, we just gotta bring it together.

With the Lakers not scheduled to begin training camp until September, he’s eyeing the possibilities of visiting the Philippines again. In August, the Philippine National Team will be competing in the SEAGames in Malaysia.

“I’m suppose to be going to the Philippines soon, so hopefully we’ll get there in the month of August before the season starts,” he said. “I ain’t ruled out, so we’ll see what happens in the next couple weeks.”

If he does make it to the Philippines, Jordan won’t be the only Laker that’s made the trip. Newly acquired center Brooke Lopez, as well as the Laker Girls, have both been out there during the offseason.

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